WESTMEADOWS v EAST KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Willowbrook Reserve
IN the match of the round, the two in-form teams of the division go head-to-head.
Both sides have been the big improvers so far this season, with this match-up likely to give a bit more of an indicator as to where they sit.
The Tigers have shown that they can match it with the two pre-season favourites in Craigieburn and Tullamarine, whereas for the Cougars, this will be their biggest challenge of the year to date.
For the Tigers, they come into this on the back of a solid win against Taylors Lakes.
The Lions were in the game for a half, before Westmeadows stepped up after the main break to record a convincing win.
Omar Saad kicked six goals for the Tigers as he continued his good form, while a couple of the younger players led the way around the ground in Aaron Evans and Jordan Hollow.
The Cougars were again impressive, easily accounting for Oak Park last week.
It was a solid second half display for the Cougars, kicking 18 goals to two after half time.
Dion Hill kicked nine goals to take him to the top of the division’s leaderboard, ahead of Saad.
Josh Grabowski also chipped in with six goals to continue his best form.
Hopefully we get a shoot-out at Willowbrook.
ROXBURGH PARK v TAYLORS LAKES
Saturday 2:15pm at Lakeside Oval
With both teams sitting on one win after the first five rounds, this shapes to be an even contest.
The Magpies took some confidence and belief after their first win in Round 4 over Oak Park but unsurprisingly proved no match for Craigieburn the following week.
The Eagles dominated from early on and the margin could have been a lot bigger had they kicked straight.
It was all single goal kickers for the Magpies, with Travis Cooke named the side’s best for the second time in three weeks.
Like the Magpies, Taylors Lakes enters the match on the back of a big loss.
The Lions were competitive for a half against Westmeadows, before the Tigers stepped it up another level.
Jake Hobbs kicked three goals in the loss, while Harrison Tanner was again named in the best.
While the Lions will enter this game as favourites, they can’t underestimate the Magpies.
CRAIGIEBURN v WEST COBURG
Saturday 2:15pm at DS Aitken Reserve
The task doesn’t get any easier for West Coburg.
Having played three of the top five sides in their last three matches, they face another one in the Eagles here.
The ladder shows only one win for the Burgers but it could have been three had a bit of luck gone their way.
On Saturday against Hillside, the Burgers were right in the game until the final minutes.
They led at half time, before the Sharks hit the front in third quarter.
Only two goals were kicked in the final term, ending the Burgers’ hopes of another win.
Andrew Careri kicked four goals in his first senior outing for the year, having kicked two goals in each of his reserves matches earlier in the year.
Abdikhane Fitaax also continued his good form and was named West Coburg’s best.
Craigieburn enters the match off the back of a convincing win against Roxburgh Park.
The outcome was never in doubt for the Eagles, who led by 44 points at the main break and the final margin should have been a lot bigger.
In the second half, the Eagles kicked 10.17.
Brent Gordon and Shannon Smith kicked five goals apiece, while Sammy Laffan kicked three goals in the absence of the underdone Dean Limbach.
Smith was named the Eagles’ best, while Nathan Perrone also had a strong game.
OAK PARK v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
Can Oak Park cause the upset of the season?
On paper this looks the most clear-cut of the four games in Division 1, with the Demons favourites to add another win to their tally.
The Kangaroos, who are the only side without a win, have been competitive for periods of games but haven’t been able to put it together for four quarters.
Last week’s loss to East Keilor was exemplary of that.
The Kangaroos were four goals down at half time, but only kicked two more after that.
Adam Meiorin kicked half of his side’s goals, with James Barnes continuing his good form in the ruck.
Oak Park’s task this weekend is to try and upset a refreshed Demons outfit that is coming off a bye.
The Demons have been hit by injuries early in the season, so their bye probably came at the right time.
Coach Dave Connell will be looking for another consistent performance here.
